Stingrays' 1st Game

October 19, 1993

SCORE BY PERIODS                                                               

South Carolina             2  1  1  0--4                                          

Roanoke                    0  3  1  1--5                                          

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, South Carolina-A. Yakovenko (power play)
 (Harris) 1:43. 2, South Carolina-Thibodeau (A. Yakovenko, Harris) 
11:55. Penalties: Barthe, ROA (high sticking), :18. Bright, SC 
(roughing), 3:07. Ruoho, SC (slashing), 4:53. S. Yakovenko, SC 
(high sticking), 5:28.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, South Carolina-Fleury (Thibodeau, 
A. Yakovenko) 6:17. 4, Roanoke-Morissette (Svoboda, Szabo) 9:32. 
5, Roanoke-Yashin (power play) (Potter, Dubkov) 17:35. 6, Roanoke-
Dubkov (power play) (M. Smith, Szabo) 19:18. Penalties: Fleury, SC 
(hooking), 1:30. A. Yakovenko, SC (high sticking), 1:48. Ryder, ROA 
(unsportsmanlike conduct), 4:17. A. Yakovenko, SC (high sticking), 
12:56. Thibodeau, SC (unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:50. A. Yakovenko, 
SC (high sticking), 18:17.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 7, Roanoke-Thomas (Galloway) 2:06. 8, South 
Carolina-Thibodeau (Harris, Fleury) 4:57. Penalties: Ferschweiler, ROA 
(tripping), 2:31. Kearney, SC (tripping), 6:36. Barthe, ROA (roughing), 
9:01. Morrissette, ROA (elbowing), 15:35. Ruoho, SC (slashing), 16:59.

OVERTIME – Scoring: 9, Roanoke-Dalley (M. Smith, Svoboda) 4:36. 
Penalties: None.

SHOTS ON GOAL                                                                   

South Carolina             8  6  9  3--26                                          

Roanoke                   13 13  6  5--37                                         

Goalies: South Carolina-Ouellette (37 shots, 32 saves). 
Roanoke-Ryder (26 shots-22 saves).

A: 3576.

Stingrays stung by Express

POST AND COURIER

The South Carolina Stingrays’ debut Tuesday night was a roller coaster ride that ended in a 5-4 
overtime loss to the Roanoke Express.

Gerry Dailey’s tip-in goal 4:36 into the five minute sudden-death period thrilled the 3,576 at the 
Roanoke Civic Center on hand for the matchup of East Coast Hockey League expansion franchises.

The Stingrays led 2-0 through one period and blew the 3-0 lead they held early in the second period 
to fall behind 4-3. But they forced the extra period, and mathematically picked up one standings point 
under ECHL rules when Ken Thibodeau scored off a rebound 4:57 into the third period.

The victory was worth two points to Roanoke.

Stingrays coach Rick Vaive said both team scrapped all night long and showed they weren’t afraid 
to mix it up in the corners.

“We had a little lapse in the second period, but our guys didn’t quit,” Vaive said. “I can’t say enough 
about how they played. We got a point out of this, and, with 67 games to go, there’s no point in getting 
down about it.”

Thibodeau’s second goal of the game answered a score by Roanoke’s Conrade Thomas that gave the 
Express its first lead at 4-3 with 2:08 gone in the third period.

“We worked hard and dominated at times,” Thibodeau said. “It’s just a matter of getting to know each 
other. We had a few little breakdowns.”

South Carolina goaltender Francis Ouellette, an ECHL all-star with the Wheeling Thunderbirds last year, 
turned aside 32 of the 37 shots he face – many of them on Express power play chances. Roanoke’s Dan 
Ryder made 22 saves.

Thibodeau said the Stingrays’ high number of penalties may have had to do with a new league rule that 
more strictly watches any stick checking above the waist.

“A lot of guys aren’t used to that rule, and that maybe hurt us a little bit,” Thibodeau said.

Sylvain Fleury gave South Carolina its 3-0 lead 6:17 into the second period off a scramble in front. While 
he was falling down, Fleury slid a shot that caromed off the left post and into the net. Ryder was out of 
position after missing on a clear attempt.

The Express’ Dave Morrissette cut it to 3-1 three minutes later, walking in on a breakaway and beating 
Ouellette with a shot from the left circle. Roanoke added power play goals at 15:50 and 19:18, on close 
in shots by Oleg Yashin and Ilja Dubkov, to tie it at 3-3 going into the third period.

The Stingrays were outshot 13-8 in the first period but took advantage of their only power play opportunity. 
Andrei Yakovenko beat Ryder with a shot from the slot 1:43 in, off an assist from Tim Harris. They weathered 
playing two men short twice in the early minutes, the first time :14, the second time 1:25.

Thibodeau made it 2-0 11:55 into the first period with a wraparound shot from the left side of the crease. Andrei 
Yakovenko and Harris each got an assist.

South Carolina was 3-for-3 overall in two-men-short situations, including a 1:42 span early in the second period.

The Stingrays end their two-game road trip at 7:30 tonight against the Charlotte Checkers.

Their home opener is 7:30 p.m. Saturday against Roanoke at the North Charleston Coliseum.